telling congress the capitol riot was domestic terrorism and after police said they didn't see the fbi's warning the night before, how he's defending his agency the third woman accusing new york governor andrew cuomo of unwanted advances the growing calls for him to resign. new images from the crash involving an nfl coach. the 5-year-old victim now out of a coma, but what her family now fears. the firestorm over dr. seuss. why several of his books will no longer be published and the mystery. who's been leaving huge tips for restaurant workers >> announcer: this is nbc "nightly news" with lester holt good evening and welcome. we've got a lot to tell you about tonight, beginning with the accelerated covid vaccination timetable just announced by president biden. he's now saying there will be enough vaccine on hand for every adult american by the end of may that's two months sooner than originally

expected thanks to an unusual arrangement between johnson & johnson and a competitor to field its new vaccine more quickly. the president also calling for educators and school workers to be prioritized for vaccinations as it stands, close to 52 million americans have received at least one dose of vaccine. hospitalizations have declined to 47,000 yet there is growing worry that some places are rushing to open too fast texas tonight about to lift most of its pandemic restrictions including mask orders. a lot to cover let's start with tom costello >> reporter: from texas to ohio and across the country the first johnson & johnson vaccine doses went from boxes and into arms today as president biden announced a new alliance to get more americans vaccinated faster >> this country will have enough vaccine supply, i'll say it again, for every adult in america by the end of may by the end of may. that's progress. >> reporter: the white house now using the

defense production act to enroll a drug company rival, merck, to help produce j&j's vaccine after initial production fell short. but it could take time for merck to produce and ship a vaccine it did not develop. j&j had promised 100 million doses by the end of june. with the j&j vaccine shipping, joining moderna and pfizer, the white house says 18 million doses are going out this week, the most yet and it's directing states to get every pre-k through 12 educator at least one shot >> our goal is to do everything we can to help every educator receive a shot this month. >> reporter: at mass vaccination sites the pace is slowly picking up 6,000 doses per day at gillette stadium near boston 3,000 per day at orlando's orange county convention center up to 9,000 per day at state farm stadium in phoenix. while chicago plans to vaccinate 6,000 a day at the united center starting next week but across the country the frustration is the same not enough vaccine and registration sites are crashing at woody's pharmacy in independence,

virginia -- >> this is the binder that is pretty full. >> reporter: there's no more room on the wait list. >> until we get more allotment we have stopped taking names >> reporter: the problem, says former cdc director tom frieden, even running at full capacity it takes time for vaccine makers to start from zero, then ramp up to produce enough for the 180 million americans who now qualify for a shot >> vaccine is hard to make you have to make sure that it's completely safe, that it's followed every protocol these are vaccines that haven't been made before in the kind of quantities that are being made now >> reporter: but there are encouraging numbers to report. 25 million americans are now fully vaccinated roughly 8% of adults the u.s. is now fourth in the world for vaccinations behind israel, the uae and britain. and new nursing home cases have now dropped 82% since peaking on december 20th. early signs of success as the vaccine rollout picks up pace.

tom costello, nbc news, washington i'm miguel almaguer defying the cdc, tonight the governors in texas and mississippi declaring they're back in business, eliminating mask mandates and allowing all retailers to open at 100% capacity >> personal vigilance. to follow the safe standards is still needed to contain covid. it's just that now state mandates are no longer needed. >> reporter: states like massachusetts, pennsylvania and kentucky also easing restrictions, allowing larger crowds in smaller venues restaurants, high school proms, even las vegas pool parties are set to reopen with fewer mandates >> once everything kind of stabilized it was like okay, maybe i can go out now and i'd feel comfortable >> reporter: but comfort could lead to complacency, warns the cdc. after weeks of

dramatic decline, daily cases and deaths have risen 2%. the numbers nowhere near the deadly winter surge but no better than the summer spike. and with 2,000 americans still dying every day, sometimes conflicting messages >> i am really worried about reports that more states are rolling back the exact public health measures we have recommended to protect people from covid-19 >> while so many other states kept locking people down over these many months, florida lifted people up >> reporter: with new variants there's also new worry about reinfection. in colorado more than 800 people tested positive for the virus twice more than 90 days apart lester >> obviously a very critical point miguel, thanks make a plan so you'll be ready when it's your turn. our state-by-state guide will help you navigate when and where you're able to receive your vaccination. we invite you to visit planyourvaccine.com for more information let's return now to that disaster on a highway in southern california

13 people are dead after an suv collided with a semi near the border with mexico steve patterson is at the scene tonight. >> reporter: tonight a devastating scene in the wake of a catastrophic car crash near the u.s.-mexico border >> we need as many ambulances as you can handle right now >> reporter: 13 people dead and a dozen injured including teens as young as 15 in what officials are calling a mass casualty incident involving an overloaded suv and a semi trailer >> it's a very sad situation. we're working collectively with these agencies to make sure that we find out exactly what happened. >> reporter: authorities say the crash happened tuesday morning when this ford suv was t-boned and shattered by a massive semi truck >> there are numerous people that were ejected onto the roadway as a result of this collision >> reporter: officials say 25 people were crammed inside the ford expedition, which had been stripped of the rear seat. the car designed to carry just eight >> obviously that vehicle's not meant for that many people

it's unfortunate that that number of people were put into that vehicle. >> reporter: police aren't sure what led to the crash but confirm there was not a border patrol pursuit prior to the accident tonight the ntsb confirming they'll be on site tomorrow to begin a safety investigation into the fatal crash. for now investigators piecing together what they can, buried amongst the sprawling wreckage well, right now a dozen people remain in the hospital, some in critical condition and while authorities have yet to release who was inside that suv, they tell us they're working with the mexican consulate to identify next of kin. lester >> an awful scene there. steve, thanks. growing calls tonight for new york governor andrew cuomo to resign or to face impeachment after a third woman accused him of inappropriate behavior our anne thompson tells us more. >> reporter: the third accusation against new york governor andrew cuomo comes with a picture, published in today's "new york times. on the left, anna ruch at a 2019 wedding where she just met cuomo. she tells the "times" he put his hand on her

bare lower back. she removed his hand with her own then he placed his hands on her cheeks and asked "can i kiss you? confused and embarrassed, ruch says, "i turned my head away and didn't have words in that moment." unlike cuomo's other two accusers, ruch did not work for the governor or the state. for new york democratic congresswoman kathleen rice it was enough tweeting "the time has come the governor must resign." new york city mayor bill de blasio today would not go that far. >> if these allegations are true, he cannot govern he would not be able to govern. it's as simple as that >> reporter: cuomo stayed out of sight in albany aides pointing to his earlier apology that said "i never inappropriately touched anybody and i never propositioned anybody. that didn't stop julia salazar and five other state senators from calling for cuomo's impeachment. >> i don't think that it's possible for the

governor to continue in his position while he is under this investigation. >> reporter: these protesters want cuomo out. but the head of the state democratic party says an independent investigator is best for everyone including the governor's accusers lester >> all right, anne, thanks very much in just 60 seconds the growing threat of domestic extremism what the fbi director says needs to be done. and growing concern about lingering covid symptoms in children

the fbi director defending his agency today, saying his agents did share what they knew about possible violence before the u.s. capitol riot with more here's pete williams >> reporter: fbi director chris wray told congress that after receiving an unverified report january 5th that extremists were talking about attacking the capitol the next day it was immediately passed on. senator amy klobuchar recalled the d.c. police chief saying it was just an e-mail >> do you think it's enough just to send an

e-mail >> well, it's more than just an e-mail. right? >> reporter: he said it was also briefed to capitol and d.c. police in person and he said the fbi warned for months that there could be violence surrounding all aspects of the election wray said the fbi is working on the domestic extremist threat, revealing that a surprising 2,000 investigations are now open nationwide but acknowledging there's more to do >> we are focused very, very hard on how can we get better sources, better information, better analysis so that we can make sure that something like what happened on january 6th never happens again. >> reporter: and despite claims from some conservatives, he said there's no evidence the capitol riot involved fake trump supporters or antifa lester >> all right pete williams, thanks. breaking news out of washington. the biden administration has withdrawn a cabinet nominee for the first time after she encountered bipartisan opposition in the senate peter alexander is at the white house. peter, what do we know >> reporter: lester, after days defending

neera tanden's nomination for budget director late tonigh president biden announced he had accepted her request to withdraw it it's the first setback for the president's effort to fill his cabinet. tanden had faced bipartisan opposition from senators due to her past incendiary tweets about some republican and democratic lawmakers tonight president biden says he has the utmost respect for tanden and looks forward to her joining his administration in a different role that does not require senate approval. lester >> peter alexander in the white house. thanks now to the state of emergency from record floods in kentucky, a dam breach forcing about 1,000 people to evacuate in eastern kentucky, and from one crisis to another, in texas more than 200,000 still under boil water notices after the storm there two weeks ago. a 5-year-old is in the fight of her life nearly a month after a crash involving the son of an nfl head coach. gabe gutierrez on her family's attorney speaking out for the first time about her condition.

>> reporter: this is what the awful crash left behind. police say former kansas city chiefs linebackers coach britt reid was driving his pickup truck near the team's practice facility when he slammed into two other vehicles three days before the super bowl. among those injured, 5-year-old ariel unable to speak or walk according to her family's attorney, tom porto. >> unfortunately, our understanding right now is that ariel will have permanent brain damage as a result of this crash >> reporter: he says ariel, her mom, aunt and cousin had pulled over on the side of the road to help a relative who'd run out of gas police say britt reid, the son of chiefs head coach andy reid, told officers he'd had two or three drinks that evening and that he had a prescription for adderall >> if there is evidence that his blood alcohol content was over the legal limit, he needs to be charged. >> reporter: police have not yet released toxicology results. today britt reid's attorney declined to comment. his father briefly addressed the crash after the super bowl

>> britt did have surgeries. heart goes out to ariel. >> reporter: at that time the chiefs placed britt reid on administrative leave his contract has since expired, lester. >> all right, gabe, thanks now to our series "life after lockdown." and the lasting effects of covid-19. we know about it in adults we talked about it last night, in fact. but a growing number of children are becoming covid long haulers. here's kristen dahlgren >> reporter: from around the world children listing their covid symptoms and just how long they've stuck around one long hauler recently pleading for answers from dr. fauci. >> my heart races and i can't read or write. no other doctors can help me. can you help me? >> we don't know enough about it, hudson >> reporter: different than the severe inflammatory syndrome that can affect some children, this is now being called long covid. just last week the nih launched a

billion-dollar initiative to investigate. between 10% and 30% of adults infected with covid will become long haulers and early studies indicate the impact on children could be just as profound 15-year-old chloe has had symptoms since july >> an inability to get a deep breath. fatigue. i get headaches every week lots of headaches. >> good job, chloe >> reporter: why certain children are impacted is still a mystery. baltimore's kennedy krieger has opened one of the first clinics dedicated to long covid children. >> these are usually high-functioning, very healthy children who did not have any previous illnesses or medical conditions >> reporter: many just had a mild case of covid. long covid signs for parents to look out for include shortness of breath, fatigue and dizziness. with no cure doctors are trying to treat the symptoms, but for many like chloe there is still little relief >> i don't want anyone else to go through this

>> reporter: once a straight-a student, she's now barely getting by >> we just want to see our of families looking for answers as symptoms linger kristen dahlgren, nbc news we'll take a short break. up next, why some dr. seuss books will no longer be published.

they are children's classics. but today word that six dr. seuss books will no longer be published because of racist and insensitive imagery. with more on that here's rehema ellis.

>> reporter: while many of his books are beloved for their zany characters -- >> the cat in the hat. >> reporter: today's decision to stop publishing six dr. seuss books comes after they've been criticized for spreading racist images for example, the book "and to think that i saw it on mulberry street," a character described as chinese has two lines for eyes and in "if i ran the zoo" two characters portraying people from africa are shown shirtless, shoeless and wearing grass skirts in a statement dr. seuss enterprises said, "working with a panel of experts and educators the decision was made last year because these books portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong. the reaction was mixed. some tweeting to publishers, "it's never too late to review your books. "every day there's a new woke story about something getting canceled." what does this say about what's happening in society right now >> society is recognizing the ills of the past and

attempting to move beyond that. >> reporter: columbia university professor chris emden says he'll still let his daughter read other dr. seuss books. >> if she sees an image in it that looks like her, it won't be one that's behind the walls of a zoo it's thoughtfulness, not cancellation >> reporter: dr. seuss enterprises wrote plan that l communities and families." tonight a popular name in children's books editing its collection to continue its appeal rehema ellis, nbc news vernon jordan, a towering figure in civil rights, politics and business, has died here's andrea mitchell >> reporter: vernon jordan was an informal adviser to presidents of both parties, a corporate kingmaker and civil rights leader who turned down bill clinton's offer to be attorney general. a tall, elegant, and eloquent power broker whose life began in the public housing projects of atlanta. >> my mother said that's not good enough for this boy he's going to do

things and he's going to go places >> reporter: he did go places the only black student in his class at depaul university in indiana. then howard university law, inspired by thurgood marshall. and still in his 30s, head of the national urban league and his first appearance before the supreme court. >> thurgood marshall from the bench of the supreme court winked his eye at me. >> reporter: in 1980 he nearly died in a racially motivated shooting, later rising to the pinnacle of washington power while continuing to mentor all who sought his help andrea mitchell, nbc news, washington we'll take a short break. up next, big tippers, inspiring america.

finally tonight, a tip about those we sometimes take for granted. our restaurant workers and how what we leave behind after a meal can change lives here in the heart of the colorado rockies a serial tipper is on the loose. >> when he left and i saw the check i was like oh, my god, this is real? is t >> reporter: the man

who goes by the covid bandit wants to remain anonymous and has been leaving big tips at various colorado restaurants for months what's it been like trying to run a restaurant during the pandemic >> it's just you don't know what's going to happen next. and people like the covid bandit make a difference because, you know, it brought tears to our eyes when we saw that big tip. >> reporter: but it's not just here. good samaritans have been serving up oversized tips to restaurant staff across the country in nashville lexy burke wanted to pay it forward. >> i had been a server back in the day and it was just heavy on my heart to do something for the servers. >> reporter: she and her husband have tipped more than 130 servers in the city this past year recently giving tori kiser a $1,300 tip and launching a go fund me campaign to buy the mother of two a new van. >> i work hard for what i do. it just makes you feel special. >> reporter: what does

this say about the kindness of strangers? >> i think it means a lot. it feels that we are all in the same boat we're all supporting each other >> reporter: proving a little goes a long way. and if you'd like to help you can find out more about charitable organizations on our facebook page. that's "nightly news" for this tuesday thank you for watching, everyone i'm lester holt. please take care of yourself and each other. ♪♪ you're just too good to be true ♪ ♪ can't take my eyes off of you ♪ ♪ you'd be like heaven to touch ♪ ♪ i wanna hold you so much ♪

♪ at long last love has arrived ♪ ♪ and i thank god i'm alive ♪ ♪ you're just too good to be true ♪ ♪ can't take my eyes off of you ♪ ♪ pardon the way that i stare ♪ ♪ there's nothing else to compare ♪ ♪ the sight of you leaves me weak ♪ ♪ there are no words left to speak ♪ ♪ but if you feel like i feel ♪ ♪ please let me know that it's real ♪ ♪ you're just too good to be true ♪ ♪ can't take my eyes off of you ♪ ♪ i need you baby ♪ ♪ and if it's quite all right ♪ ♪ i need you baby ♪ ♪ to warm the lonely night ♪ ♪ i love you baby ♪ ♪ trust in me when i say it's okay ♪ ♪ oh pretty baby ♪

♪ don't let me down i pray ♪ ♪ oh pretty baby ♪ ♪ now that i found you stay ♪ ♪ and let me love you oh baby ♪ ♪ let me love you oh baby ♪ ♪ you're just too good to be true ♪♪ [cheers and applause] >> kelly: welcome to "the kelly clarkson show." give it up for my band, y'all. yeah! that's a little lauryn hill for you. i love that version. why did you want to hear that, maria? >> hi, kelly. i love this song so much. it embodies what love means to me. my favorite song lyric is "at